The Winged People, hundreds strong, who were in the process of establishing the Sky City, ceased their work and flew to stand behind Ajana, forming a defensive array. Even for a high-blooded race like the Winged Gods, whose adults achieve the Golden Core stage, a Nascent Soul level expert was an existence of ultimate value. It was also the very foundation of a race’s strength and survival.

Ajana hovered in the void, her pristine white wings lifted high. Her figure was tall and slender, clad in white armor that accentuated her exquisite, curvaceous form. Her features were delicate and perfect, and a deep sapphire gem was fastened to her forehead, lending her an air of deep mystery.

The Winged God Clan certainly possessed the pedigree for their arrogance. With powerful bloodlines and flawless appearances, it was entirely reasonable for them to consider themselves the favored children of the world's origin. And Ajana was the absolute pinnacle among the Winged Gods—her innate talent was simply heaven-defying. In a mere five hundred years, she had cultivated her way to the initial stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Her Great Light Art had reached a transcendent level, causing countless young men and women of the Winged God Clan to revere her as an idol, granting her the title, the Light King.

Yet, even with such power, Ajana was still lacking when facing the Eastern Sea Yaksha Clan and their King. After all, the entire Eastern Sea Yaksha Clan had mobilized, granting them an overwhelming advantage. Facing the aggressive push of the Yaksha King, Ajana, while executing a secret art to summon her tribesmen scattered across the Yaksha Sea, managed to keep her voice calm: "Yaksha King Zana, I am merely acting on the command of our God King to temporarily blockade your tribal waters until the Yin Sha Sect of Kang Province is annihilated. I respect you as an elder and have shown deference repeatedly. If you persist in your aggression, I will lead my kin to perish with you before taking a single step back."

As the final syllable of "step" left her lips, there was a resounding clang as a broadsword-like greatsword was drawn. White power of light flickered intermittently from the blade. Holding it in one hand, she pointed it toward the great Yaksha army and roared, "Are there any among our people who fear death?"

"None, none."

The hundreds of Winged People were instantly charged by the aura radiating from Ajana, their powers of light flaring brightly. They snatched up their weapons, uniting together, their fighting spirit surging high.

"Hmph! Overestimating yourselves."

The Yaksha King Zana sneered, pointing his golden trident toward the sky and roaring back, "Ajana, your Winged God Clan does not fear death. Do you suggest our Yaksha Clan are all cowards? Let those who do not fear death roar for me!" As a Nascent Soul expert, his high-pitched shout could easily cover a range spanning a hundred li.

"Roar, roar—Fight, fight, fight."

Tens of thousands of Yaksha warriors roared in unison, their eyes blazing with savage fighting intent. In the eyes of the Yaksha people, their King was the strongest, an existence akin to a god.

That imposing momentum crashed down upon the small contingent of the Winged God Clan like a tidal wave threatening to submerge them.

A massive battle seemed imminent, like a storm about to break.

Regrettably, except for a mere handful of individuals, no one knew that the Yaksha King actually did not wish to fight right now, at least not yet. Creating such a massive show of force was primarily intended to frighten Ajana into restraining her people on the Yaksha Sea. Secondly, it was to create an opportunity for Lei Dong's departure.

If Lei Dong were to leave alone, he could accomplish it easily by merely activating the Ran Tian Zang Ri Jue. However, this time he was leaving with an elite contingent of Yaksha warriors—a force totaling five hundred. These five hundred were the absolute elite of the Eastern Sea Yaksha Clan; the baseline was Golden Core level Yaksha warriors, which included ten Nascent Soul Elders.

Furthermore, these Yaksha warriors were not merely standard Golden Core experts, but the finest of the younger generation within the Eastern Sea Yaksha Clan. The Yaksha King regarded these young Yaksha as treasures. Entrusting command to Lei Dong was not only fulfilling an alliance pact but also looking out for the future of the Yaksha Clan. Secondly, he intended to let these elite tribesmen grow through the crucible of brutal warfare, forging them into the future pillars of the Eastern Sea Yaksha Clan.

Though the Eastern Sea Yaksha Clan numbered at least two or three hundred thousand, young and old combined, selecting five hundred such elites was no small feat.

If Lei Dong were to lose this contingent, even if the Yaksha Clan itself did not face extinction, it would take millennia for them to recover their vitality. Thus, the gamble the Yaksha King was taking was immense.

With such a large group leaving the Yaksha Sea, it would be difficult to avoid the notice of the Winged God Clan, especially the Light King Ajana, without creating some massive diversion.

If the Yaksha King did not want to fight, neither did Ajana, really. Her mission, as she stated, was simply to prevent the Yaksha Clan from interfering with Kang Province matters. To confront the Yaksha King head-on with these numbers would undoubtedly be like crushing an egg against a stone—seeking self-destruction. Of course, she also had substantial backing, with an entire powerful race supporting her from behind.

Seeing the Yaksha Clan’s imposing momentum and their readiness to fight to the death, the proud Ajana had no choice but to temporarily lower her head, saying coldly, "Zana, this King can agree to halt the construction of the Sky City. However, our clan cannot remain soaring in the sky indefinitely; we require a proper place to settle."

The Yaksha King felt a slight easing in his heart when he saw her yield. He had already resolved that if she refused to concede, the planned battle would have to commence early. But without reinforcements or allies, even if the Yaksha Clan won this fight, their vitality would be severely wounded. While inwardly acknowledging how accurately the young man Lei Dong had calculated things, he stated gravely, "If you, Ajana, genuinely harbor no hostility toward our clan, this King can temporarily yield an underwater city for your warriors to inhabit." In truth, the Yaksha King had already calculated the purpose behind the Winged God Clan building the Sky City: firstly, they indeed needed a long-term foothold; secondly, the Sky City was a potent siege weapon, and they could not be allowed the chance to construct it.

Ajana was no fool. Although the Winged God Clan could fight underwater, they were significantly inferior to their aerial prowess. Once surrounded in the water by the water-specialized Yaksha Clan, they would truly be in a hopeless situation. She directly refused: "My clan is the race of the sky; we do not prefer dwelling in the deep sea."

This answer was precisely what the Yaksha King and Lei Dong had anticipated. The Yaksha King generously added, "The Sky City is too dangerous, and construction is absolutely out of the question. Since you dislike residing underwater, this King suggests you relocate to the barren islands in the western part of the Yaksha Sea. I can dispatch men to assist you in constructing palaces. You, Ajana, can stay as long as you wish."

After a slight hesitation, Ajana could only agree for the time being. This outcome was far better than engaging in an immediate war. Until the Supreme Sect stabilized Kang Province and could free up their forces, launching a conflict with the Yaksha Clan was too disadvantageous.

Seeing the situation reach this point, the Yaksha King began stirring the pot again. In front of tens of thousands of Yaksha warriors, he directly issued a challenge to Ajana: "This King has long heard that in the recent centuries, an unparalleled genius has emerged in the Winged God Clan. In a mere five hundred years, you broke the shackles and stepped onto the path of the peak. Your Great Light Art possesses extraordinary might. Light King Ajana, does this King have the honor of witnessing your Great Light Art?"

Any Nascent Soul expert approaches combat with a peer with extreme caution, as everyone who reaches this level is a formidable figure in their own right. Unless they are absolutely certain of victory, they rarely provoke a fight.

However, the Asura King, under the gaze of all present, proposed a spar with Ajana.

In any other setting, Ajana might have refused. But positioned between two opposing armies, refusal would have had dire consequences. Moreover, Ajana possessed significant self-confidence and was already bristling with suppressed anger from the Yaksha King’s aggressive posture.

She was hesitant to lead her army into a full-scale melee, but did she lack the courage for a one-on-one duel? Instead of anger, joy surfaced on her face, revealing an air of pride: "I have long heard that Yaksha King Zana's Water Evasion Art has reached the zenith, making him unrivaled in water combat. Since the Yaksha King is so interested, this King also wishes to witness the power of the Water Evasion Art. All Winged God Clan members, retreat one hundred li."

Seeing her accept the challenge, the Yaksha King’s blood began to boil. With a wave of his hand, the massive army retreated like a receding tide.

Soon, only the Yaksha King and Ajana remained, facing each other across the hundred-li expanse.

Simultaneously, the two supreme powerhouses cast aside all reservations and unleashed their full auras. The aura surrounding the Yaksha King was pale cyan, cold yet gentle. Ajana's was pure white, comforting and serene.

In outward appearance, their powers represented Water and Light, respectively—forces that didn't immediately suggest overwhelming destructive capability.

In reality, water can cause devastating floods, and light can reduce beings to ash.

Beneath the seemingly tranquil and gentle powers lay a terrifying lethality.

Neither spoke another word; the battle commenced at the same instant. The Yaksha King swung his golden trident, and the pale cyan water essence transformed into a soaring azure giant dragon, baring its fangs and claws, roaring as it lunged toward Ajana. Its momentum suggested collapsing mountains and surging tides, drowning out all other colors in the sky.

For any ordinary person, the thought of striking back before the Yaksha King attacked would likely never even form. However, Ajana, being an expert of the same rank, felt no fear. She manipulated her broadsword greatsword, conjuring streaks of pure white sword energy that whistled as they sliced toward the azure dragon.

Boom, boom, boom—

Azure light and white light intertwined and shone in the sky. Even the Yaksha and Winged God tribesmen stationed a hundred li away could feel the shockwaves generated by the collision of such immense energies. They were all simultaneously excited and tense, none willing to see their sovereign lose.

"Great Light Cannon!"

Ajana cried out sharply, bringing her hands together to unleash a pure white pillar of light imbued with the flavor of destruction. This was one of the most potent destructive moves in the Winged God Clan arsenal, and in her hands, its power was terrifying; even a peer hit by it would face grave danger. The last time she used this move against Lei Dong and his group, it was casually deployed, barely reaching thirty percent of its true power. This time, however, she seized the opportunity, determined to crush the Yaksha King in one blow.